Add Zac Clarke to that injured forward list
Wasnāt the best today but there were others who played way worst.
IMO he needs to give himself 5-10 more metres in his run up for goal. He got no power through his shots yesterday.
I thought he was CLEARLY our second best permanent forward after Stringer. Donāt know why heās copping it.
Daniher was trash
Walla was utter trash
Bags was utter, utter trash
Parish, Dev and Langford actually did some ok things in the forward line and made space.
13 Likes
Yep as a pretty much first game forward he showed some promise. Understand he looked better in the first half, but that was because we got it near him.
He was never going to come in first up in that forward line against a very good defence and kick 4 goals.
I 100% agree. I also think many other plays need sports psychologists as well, or perhaps just better guidance from the coaches.
He looked really good early to me. He is footballer with loads of talent, and many mental and physical demons (fitness). We need to persevere with him and keep him in the side. fwd back, midfield at times, I donāt care. He is and always will be a confidence player.
Good coaches know how to handle these players. hint, hint
2 Likes
Sure you can. Anyone brought in to play solely due to injuries would be aware that their position in the team is uncertain. Francis didnāt earn his way back into the team, he got a gift of an AFL game from the footy gods. That doesnāt automatically mean he should be in the next week.
Iām not saying he necessarily should be dropped, but the idea his position is guaranteed is IMO a little silly.
Iād add Clarke and remove Stringer. And then recognise that you still have options, as Hooker can play forward and (possibly) Belly with Draper rucking. I donāt have a problem per se picking Francis, but to pretend there werenāt other options is silly.
And given Francis plays best as a tall defender, and you had Hooker, to not try a hail mary and move Hooker forward for me was pretty stupid.
1 Like
Hurley was keeping Rohan quiet and Hooker is the only man for Hawkins.
To my mind, there were no other options.
5 Likes
Agree that Hooker wasnāt a chance to go forward given the need to keep Hawkins in check. Next week though I can see Hooker forward and Francis back as a realistic option given there is no way Hooker plays on Franklin - if he gets up for the game.
In saying that we should have made this move halfway through the 3rd quarter yesterday. We were not looking likely to win and Hooker could have shown something up forward and we could have learnt if Francis could match up on Hawkins.
1 Like
I heard Matthew Lloyd earlier this evening say there isnāt a spot for him with Ambrose Hooker and Hurley ahead if him. He didnāt mention Ridley as he obviously forgot him.
Unbelievably, he said that Francis may need to look elsewhere for opportunities? WTF is Lloyd talking about?
Now, I love Matty Lloyd almost as much as his father does but farck me heās got Francis totally wrong.
Why on earth does he think that Ambrose and Ridley are ahead of Francis long term? Right now, and in the short term maybe yes, but what happens when Hooker retires probably in the next 2 years?
Francis has more natural talent than both of those players combined. He needs a consistent run of games in defence to show again how good he can be.
I have rarely seen so much natural talent in a footballer with his size, unfortunately he just canāt get a consistent long run at it.
But,
If Francis goes anywhere then thats it for me, - seriously. I donāt need much to stop me following this club, and AFL in total. I canāt let go of the poisoned chalice that was the saga, there is no enjoyment for me any more. I go week in week out, more out of habit and in hope the passion will return.
But if we potentially trade a kid with this much talent to keep Ambrose or Ridley then thatās enough to tip me over the edge. You can stick a fork in me, Iām cooked and Iāll be done.
Why are people even mentioning trading Francis as a possibility? Especially ahead of keeping Ambrose or Ridley? Nothing against them but ffs seriously?
And, these fkg coaches and selection committee are really starting to annoy me now.
4 Likes
Donāt let Lloydy and his dinner party anecdotes get to you mate. Francis will be fine.
This needs a thread all to itself.
Watched Adel Freoā¦ Oh my lord, what utter rubbish to watch. However, thatās an option in modern footyā¦ to shut it down, play keepers off, soccer style.
Richmond played a season with Riewoldt their only recognised tall. They played dirty, small ballā¦ fark it, why canāt we do that if the opposition and injuries warrant it? Playing Francis fwd wasnāt the only option and likely did him no favours, confidence-wise.
In the last, when we were desperate move Ambrose to Hawkins, Hooker forward. Hardly perfect, but we needed something.
4 Likes
I donāt think the net result would have been positive with that move. Our fwd supply was dismal, which would have starved Chook, and Hawkins was beginning to come into the game. Not a move I would have made.
Bloke who gets a half playing forward in the VFL as preparation comes in and is the second best forward in a terrible, terrible display of forward line delivery.
Gets bagged.
Keep on truckinā Blitz.
You glorious wankers.
15 Likes
The only way we should consider trading Francis would be a crazy good offer (like 2 x first round picks). We wouldnāt get that so keep him.
He could be a star of the comp one day. With our ageing defense he could easily slot into the CHB role and become an AA standard player.
Couldnāt believe when we were shopping him around last year and was so happy when no other team was willing to give up a 2nd rounder. Continue to play him.
He has played 10-15 games only. Wait to see how good heāll be when he gets to 40-50 games
Not going to elaborate but Blitzers should be aware that this is not an overly accurate representation of that period.
6 Likes
Somethingās not quite right with Francis atm, imo. He looks āfitā but isnāt really āplaying fitā, if that makes sense. The game isnāt quite flowing for him like it did late last year, at either level. Iām sure itāll click for him soon
6 Likes
If you think Franga will stick around waiting for Hooker to retire then you may aswell throw in the towel. Heās not in our best 22 at the moment and if that doesnāt change by mid season you can bet heāll be on the move. He needs to show a little more than what he has been though.
You blaming his prep. How frigging hard is it to go for the ball
Weak excuse for no second efforts